"My feelings are very clear on this," he told reporters Thursday, adding that it was "so absurd" that gays and lesbians are not allowed to marry in most states.

"I wish the president actually had gone further. I wish he had said he was going to back some legislation on the national level," Stern said.

Obama said he believed same-sex couples should be allowed to marry during an interview Wednesday. Stern said it seemed like a calculated political decision for Obama to wait until three-and-a-half years into his presidency to express support for gay marriage, adding: "But okay, this is a good first step. It's a baby step."

"I would like the president to really get behind this and push it," he said. "This is something that is long overdue."